Ration



VF`. A. WHITTEN.

MoToR vEmcLE. APPLICATION FILED IAYSI, I9I8.

WITNESS "f3, M f' ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK A. WHITTEN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, .ASSIGNOR T GENERAL MOTORS CORFO- BATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

Application filed May 31, 1918.

To all 'whom zt may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK A. WHri'rnN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Detroit, Vayne county, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is, a specification.

The present invention has reference to a transmission support, the object beingto relieve the casing and the parts inclosed thereby of stresses caused by twisting of the frame. When the frame is twisted, as by elevating or lowering one of the corners, the relative deflection of the side bars is greater near one end of the transmission than the other, the result being that a strong tendency exists for one end of the transmission casing to shift laterally relatively to the other end. One feature of the invention resides in a casing support of such nature that this shifting may freely take place. This support has the additional advantage of preserving a better alinement of the driving shaft with the main driven shaft of the transmission. v

The invention also consists in a stirrup and trunnion support of the nature stated above wherein the casing is also free for angular movement in respect to the stirrup and about .an axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle, thus relieving the cross members of such stresses as would otherwise be set up on account of their relative angular movement in conforming to the double curvature of the deflected frame.

The invention further consists in a trans mission casing support wherein one end of the casing is provided with a trunnion extension arranged to be received in a hanger, the latter of which is swingable about a horizontal axis; this construction provides for ready assembling and dismantling of the casing in respect to the frame.

The invention also consists in certain details ofconstruction shown, described and claimed.y v

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a truck chassis showing the general relation of parts. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective viewlooking toward the rear and showing the transmission support more clearly. Fi 3 is a transverse vertical section parts being broken away, looking rearwardly and showing in dashed lines the influence of twisting of the chassis. Fig. 4 is a vertical Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

serial No. 237,431.

longitudinal section corresponding to Fig. 3, parts being broken away. Fig. 5 is a front .view of a modified stirrup construction.

The frame 1, rear axle 2, engine 3 and propeller shaft sections 4 and 5 are of well known construction and are subject to wide variation; in like manner, the change speed gearing (not shown), which is contained in the transmission casing 6, may be of any suitable nature. The forwardly projectingA shaft of the gearing, which is adapted to be driven by the shaft section i and universal joint 8, appears at 9; and the similar rearwardly projecting shaft 10 suilices, with the universal joint 11, to drive the shaft section 5 at selected speed direct or reverse.

In the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the casing 6 is provided with a perforated flange or with perforated ears l2 through which and the cross bar 13 the suspension bolts 14 pass, tubular fillers or spacers 15 being interposed between the flanges of the cross bar. The shaft 9`passes through a trunnion lextension 16, preferably integral with the casing 6, and this extension bears in a stirrup or hanger 17 the upper portion-0f which is perforated transversely and received on the transversely extending tubular cross bar 18; and the ends of the latter are carried in chairs 19 on the side bars. As shown, the stirrup isl free to both turn and slide on the tube, but the tube might obviously turn in the chairs, in which case the stirrup would not necessarily be capable of angular movement in respect to the tube. The upper end portion of the stirrup is preferably cored out centrally to provide a chamber 2O for grease, and a similar chamber 21 is formed about the trunnion 16, it being understood that a slight clearance is normally provided between thefront wall of the casing Vand the rear wall of the stirrup so that expansion or other slight longitudinal movement of the casing is'free to take place. It will be observed that the two sets of contacting surfaces between the bar 18 and the stirrup arespaced apart considerably transversely of the vehicle.

When one wheel passes over an obstruction or falls into a hole, the corresponding corner of the frame is displaced and sets up a twisting action somewhat as indicated in dashed lines in Fig. 3; in other words, one

side bar rises or falls in the vicinity of the iok transmission in respect to the other; and the amount of this relative movement is greater at one end of the transmission than at the other. Under these conditions there is a decided tendency for the front end ofthe transmission casing to swing sidewise. This action being freely allowed by the slipping of the stirrup along` the bar; it is evident lthat the secondary stresses which would otherwise be established are avoided. A more desirable alinement of the shaft sections l and 9 is also maintained. A further advantage in the manner of assembly is secured, in that the trunnion may be inserted into the stirrup when the parts are in the position indicated by the dashed lines, Fig. 4, and the casing thereafter swung up into final position to receive the bolts 14:. The reverse operation is; of course, of advantage when the casing is to be removed.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention. In Fig. 5, for example, the stirrup or hanger is shown provided with detachable upper and lower caps and 24 held in place by bolts 25. Suitable shims 26 may, of course, be employed between one or both of these caps and the body 27 of the stirrup. It must also be noted that springs 29 are arranged to resiliently hold the upper half 28 of the support against the trunnion whereby rattle is obviated. I do not, therefore, wish to be limited except as indicated by the subjoined claims.

I claim 1. In a motor vehicle and in combination with a frame having longitudinally extending side members7 a transmission gearing casing having a trunnion formed integrally therewith and located at one of its ends; a rotatable shaft extending through said trunnion and along the axis thereof; a cross bar extending between and the ends of which are supported by said side members; means for securing the end ofl said casing opposite said trunnion of said cross bar; a second cross bar circular in cross section and extending between and the ends of which are supported by said side members; and a hanger slidable along and rotatable about the axis of said last mentioned cross bar, and which hanger is provided with a bearing adapted to receive said trunnion and within which said trunnion is capable of both oscillatory and longitudinal movement.

2. In a motor vehicle and in combination with a frame having longitudinally extending v side members, a transmission gearing casing having a trunnion at one of its ends; a rotatable shaft extending through said trunnion and along the axis thereof; a cross which are supported by said side members; means for securing the end of said casing opposite said trunnion to said cross bar; a second cross bar extending between and the ends of which are supported by said side members; and a hanger slidable along said last mentioned cross bar as a guide and which hanger is provided with a bearing adapted to receive said trunnion and within which said trunnion is capable of oscillatory movement.

3. In a motor vehicle and in combination with a frame having longitudinally extending side members7 a transmission gearing casing having a trunnion at one of its ends; a rotatable shaft extending through said trunnion and along the axis thereof; means for supporting the end of said casing opposite said trunnion from said side members; a cross bar supported from said side members; and a hanger supported by and slidable lalong said cross bar as a guide; and which hanger is provided with a bearing adapted to receive said trunnion and Within which said trunnion is capable of oscillatory movement.

4. In a motor vehicle and in combination with a frame having longitudinally extending side members, a transmission gearing casing having a trunnion at one of its ends; a rotatable shaft extending through said trunnion and along the axis thereof; means for supporting the end of said casing opposite said trunnion from said side members; a cross bar circular in cross section supported from said side members; and a hanger slidable along said cross bar and rotatable aboutthe axis thereof, and which hanger is provided with a bearing into which the trunnion aforesaid extends, and within which bearing said trunnion is capable of both oscillatory and longitudinal movement.

5. In a motor vehicle, a frame having longitudinally extending side members; a cross bar circular in cross section and the ends of which are supported by said side members; a hanger supported by said cross bar and free to slide thereupon and also to oscillate upon said cross bar as a pivotal support; a transmission casing having a trunnion at one' of its ends extending into a bearing provided for it in said hanger; and a second cross bar the ends of which are supported by said side members and to which bar the end of said casing opposite to that at which said trunnion is located is fixedly secured.

6. In a motor vehicle, a frame having 1ongitudinally extending side members; a cross bar the ends of which are supported by said side members; a hanger supported by said cross bar and free to slide thereupon; a casing having a trunnion at one of its ends bar 'extending between and the ends of extending into a bearing provided for it in said hanger; and a second cross bar the ends of which are supported by said side members and to which bar the end of said casing opposite to that at which said trunnion is located is ixedly secured.

7 In a motor vehicle, a cross bar, a hanger suspended therefrom and swingable about an axis transversely of the vehicle, said hanger including a bearing, a transmission casing having a trunnion adapted to be inserted into said bearing by moving the casing longitudinally of the vehicle, a second cross bar, and detachable means for connecting the casing thereto after the trunnion has been assembled in the bearing and the casing has been swung angularly about said axis.

8. In a motor vehicle, a tubular cross bar and hanger supported by said cross bar and free to slide thereupon and to swing about said cross bar as a support; said hanger having two surfaces spaced apart from one another and bearing upon said cross bar, and an intermediatechamber between said surfaces adapted to contain a supply of lubricant; and a transmission gearing casing having a trunnion at one of its ends and which trunnion extends into a bearing provided therefor in said hanger.

9. In combination with the frame of a motor vehicle, a casing, a hanger for one end oi the easing, said casing being free to slide longitudinally in said hanger and to turn therein about a line longitudinally of the vehicle and intersecting the lower portion of the hanger, and said hanger being free to slide laterally of the vehicle and to swing about a line transversely of the vehicle and intersecting the upper portion of the hanger.

In testimony whereof I affix m si nature.

FRANK A. I EN. 

